Last Modified: Monday, April 12, 2010 at 10:53 p.m.

Randy Ross was the coach and one of his better players was receiver Rodney Long.

The Rev. Joe Dismuke recalls Rodney as not only “a classmate, teammate and close friend,” but also “the finest young man I have ever known.”

Local high school sports fans will remember that during the falls of 1978, ’79 and ’80, Southside High enjoyed its finest era of football.

Quarterback Brian Mintz and Long, his top receiver, almost were unbeatable. Tailback Kyle Collins and fullback Scott Keeling almost were unstoppable and Dismuke was a dominating force in the line.

Dismuke went on to play for Coach Paul Bryant at Alabama. Collins signed with Jacksonville State, but wound up playing for Pat Dye at Auburn. Keeling signed with Clemson, but later transferred to Jacksonville State, which had signed Mintz. Long signed with Austin Peay State.

“I remember when Rodney and I played in the Alabama High School All-Star game, how he could outrun and outcatch all the other receivers. The major college coaches at practice suddenly realized they had made a mistake by not signing him,” recalled Dismuke. “After I got to Alabama, I tried to get him to leave Austin Peay and walk on at Alabama, as Kyle had done by leaving Jacksonville for Auburn. Rodney could have played for Alabama, but he needed a scholarship to attend college, just as I did.”

Coach Ross said Rodney was so good that he started every game for the Governors as a freshman and was looking for greater things his sophomore season. But he never had an opportunity to fulfill his goals.

On Feb. 11, 1982, in only his second semester at the Clarksville, Tenn., school, he was shot and killed. It was on a Thursday night after he had officiated a girls’ church league basketball game. He had gone to a fast food place for something to eat and two guys bummed a ride with him, claiming their car had broken down.

His body was found in a rural area two weeks later. He had been shot in the back and the head.

“I remember it was just before Valentine’s Day,” Dismuke said. “He had sent flowers to his girlfriend and was planning on coming home that weekend. I understand the flowers arrived, but Rodney didn’t.”

Dismuke remembers Long as “a good person who led by example. He never said anything bad nor made anyone mad. He lived the kind of life that the rest of his teammates wished they could live. With him gone, the world has missed out on a wonderful human being.”

Mintz-to-Long passes were legendary in high school circles and Long’s mother, Barbara Mack, said the two were just as close off the field as on it — and always a winning combination.

Today Mintz is a successful high school coach, hoping one day to find that kind of duo to play for him. He recalls hanging out with Rodney since kindergarten.

“Our team was a close group of guys, most of us growing up together from the first and second grade,” said Mintz. “Rodney and I were always tossing the football — during the offseason, before and after basketball practice in the gym, on Sunday afternoons before taking in a movie, for an hour each day after football practice.

“I’ve seen him make so many great catches. He just had a knack for reacting to the defense and finding an open spot in the secondary. And as much as I threw to him all year, getting the ball to him in a game was just natural. He was such a great receiver and such a great guy.”

David Frye was convicted for Long’s murder and sentenced to life in prison. Steven Drake, an accomplice, was given a 40-year sentence and was killed in prison.

Frye has a parole hearing coming up May 3.

“This is his second parole hearing,” said Mack. “The last time was six years ago and he was turned down. The parole board said that they were inundated with letters last time, and there were a lot of people at the hearing. I’m hoping for the same thing again this time.”

She said that letters and e-mails must be in by next Monday. The mailing address is: Kim Gentry, NECX, P.O. Box 5000, Mountain City, TN 37683. kimberly.gentry@tn.gov is the e-mail address.

Mack said people who want to attend the hearing, or need additional information, may contact her at 256-442-7555 or 256-438-6855.

<p>One of the best football teams ever fielded at Southside High School was in the fall of 1980 when the Panthers went 12-1 and finished third in the state.</p><p>Randy Ross was the coach and one of his better players was receiver Rodney Long.</p><p>The Rev. Joe Dismuke recalls Rodney as not only “a classmate, teammate and close friend,” but also “the finest young man I have ever known.”</p><p>Local high school sports fans will remember that during the falls of 1978, '79 and '80, Southside High enjoyed its finest era of football.</p><p>Quarterback Brian Mintz and Long, his top receiver, almost were unbeatable. Tailback Kyle Collins and fullback Scott Keeling almost were unstoppable and Dismuke was a dominating force in the line.</p><p>Dismuke went on to play for Coach Paul Bryant at Alabama. Collins signed with Jacksonville State, but wound up playing for Pat Dye at Auburn. Keeling signed with Clemson, but later transferred to Jacksonville State, which had signed Mintz. Long signed with Austin Peay State.</p><p>“I remember when Rodney and I played in the Alabama High School All-Star game, how he could outrun and outcatch all the other receivers. The major college coaches at practice suddenly realized they had made a mistake by not signing him,” recalled Dismuke. “After I got to Alabama, I tried to get him to leave Austin Peay and walk on at Alabama, as Kyle had done by leaving Jacksonville for Auburn. Rodney could have played for Alabama, but he needed a scholarship to attend college, just as I did.”</p><p>Coach Ross said Rodney was so good that he started every game for the Governors as a freshman and was looking for greater things his sophomore season. But he never had an opportunity to fulfill his goals.</p><p>On Feb. 11, 1982, in only his second semester at the Clarksville, Tenn., school, he was shot and killed. It was on a Thursday night after he had officiated a girls' church league basketball game. He had gone to a fast food place for something to eat and two guys bummed a ride with him, claiming their car had broken down.</p><p>His body was found in a rural area two weeks later. He had been shot in the back and the head.</p><p>“I remember it was just before Valentine's Day,” Dismuke said. “He had sent flowers to his girlfriend and was planning on coming home that weekend. I understand the flowers arrived, but Rodney didn't.”</p><p>Dismuke remembers Long as “a good person who led by example. He never said anything bad nor made anyone mad. He lived the kind of life that the rest of his teammates wished they could live. With him gone, the world has missed out on a wonderful human being.”</p><p>Mintz-to-Long passes were legendary in high school circles and Long's mother, Barbara Mack, said the two were just as close off the field as on it — and always a winning combination.</p><p>Today Mintz is a successful high school coach, hoping one day to find that kind of duo to play for him. He recalls hanging out with Rodney since kindergarten.</p><p>“Our team was a close group of guys, most of us growing up together from the first and second grade,” said Mintz. “Rodney and I were always tossing the football — during the offseason, before and after basketball practice in the gym, on Sunday afternoons before taking in a movie, for an hour each day after football practice.</p><p>“I've seen him make so many great catches. He just had a knack for reacting to the defense and finding an open spot in the secondary. And as much as I threw to him all year, getting the ball to him in a game was just natural. He was such a great receiver and such a great guy.”</p><p>David Frye was convicted for Long's murder and sentenced to life in prison. Steven Drake, an accomplice, was given a 40-year sentence and was killed in prison.</p><p>Frye has a parole hearing coming up May 3.</p><p>“This is his second parole hearing,” said Mack. “The last time was six years ago and he was turned down. The parole board said that they were inundated with letters last time, and there were a lot of people at the hearing. I'm hoping for the same thing again this time.”</p><p>She said that letters and e-mails must be in by next Monday. The mailing address is: Kim Gentry, NECX, P.O. Box 5000, Mountain City, TN 37683. kimberly.gentry@tn.gov is the e-mail address.</p><p>Mack said people who want to attend the hearing, or need additional information, may contact her at 256-442-7555 or 256-438-6855.</p>